Sevoflurane induces ho-1-mrna expression by regulating P13K/Akt/P70S6K signaling pathway and affects neuronal apoptosis

Purpose: To determine the effect of sevoflurane (SE) on neuronal apoptosis, and the mechanism involved.Methods: Sixty healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to control, model and SE groups. Sham surgery was performed in control group, while middle cerebral artery infarction (MCAO) was established in model group. The expression of HO-1 mRNA was determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Apoptosis, autophagy and protein content of P13K/Akt/P70S6K signaling pathway were assessed by Western blot assay.Results: Apoptosis was significantly lower in SE rats, relative to model rats. There were markedly higher protein levels of LC3 II / I, beclin-1, bad, Bcl-2 and caspase-3 in model and SE groups than in control rats (p < 0.05). The HO-1 mRNA was significantly up-regulated in model and SE groups, relative to controls, but it was significantly up-regulated in SE group, relative to model rats (p < 0.05). The expression levels of phosphorylated proteins of the P13K/Akt /P70S6K signal-related proteins in model and SE groups were significantly up-regulated, relative to control, but elevated in SE mice, when compared to model mice (p < 0.05).Conclusion: SE improves the behavior of MCAO rats, reduces cerebral infarction, and inhibits apoptosis and autophagy of nerve cells by regulating autophagy and apoptosis-related proteins through a mechanism that may be related to the induction of HO-1-mRNA expression by regulating P13K/Akt /P70S6K signal pathway. This provides new insights for the development of anti-neuronal apoptosis drugs

Deubiquitinase USP47/UBP64E Regulates β-Catenin Ubiquitination and Degradation and Plays a Positive Role in Wnt Signaling

Wnt signaling plays important roles in development and tumorigenesis. A central question about the Wnt pathway is the regulation of β-catenin. Phosphorylation of β-catenin by CK1α and GSK3 promotes β-catenin binding to β-TrCP, leading to β-catenin degradation through the proteasome. The phosphorylation and ubiquitination of β-catenin have been well characterized; however, it is unknown whether and how a deubiquitinase is involved. In this study, by screening RNA interference (RNAi) libraries, we identified USP47 as a deubiquitinase that prevents β-catenin ubiquitination. Inactivation of USP47 by RNAi increased β-catenin ubiquitination, attenuated Wnt signaling, and repressed cancer cell growth. Furthermore, USP47 deubiquitinates itself, whereas β-TrCP promotes USP47 ubiquitination through interaction with an atypical motif in USP47. Finally, in vivo studies in the Drosophila wing suggest that UBP64E, the USP47 counterpart in Drosophila, is required for Armadillo stabilization and plays a positive role in regulating Wnt target gene expression

Effects of Electroacupuncture on Ovarian Expression of the Androgen Receptor and Connexin 43 in Rats with Letrozole-Induced Polycystic Ovaries

Background. Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) occurs in women of reproductive age and is often characterized by reproductive and endocrine dysfunction. Androgens play a major role in PCOS, and previous studies reported abnormal expression of Connexin 43 (Cx43) in animal models of PCOS, suggesting an association of Cx43 with PCOS pathogenesis. Experimental and clinical evidence indicated that acupuncture may be a safe and effective approach for treating reproductive and endocrine disorders in women with PCOS. This study aimed to determine the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on PCOS and its relationship with the expression of the androgen receptor (AR) and Cx43. Methods. In total, 30 female Sprague Dawley rats (6 weeks old) were randomly divided into three groups: control group, letrozole (LE) group, and LE + EA group. Rats were administered LE solution (1.0 mg/kg) for 21 consecutive days to induce PCOS. For the LE + EA group, additional EA treatment was conducted (2 Hz, 20 min/d) with “Guanyuan” (CV3) for 14 consecutive days. After hematoxylin-eosin staining, the ovarian structure was observed with an optical microscope, and serum levels of the following hormones were examined via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA): testosterone (T), estradiol (E2), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH); luteinizing hormone (LH), insulin (INS), anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), and inhibin B (INHB). Fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels were evaluated using glucose oxidase-peroxidase. Ovarian mRNA and protein expressions of AR and Cx43 were determined by real-time RT-PCR and Western blot analysis. Results. EA was found to restore the cyclicity and ovarian morphology in the PCOS rat model. Serum derived from the LE + EA group showed significant decreases in the levels of T, free androgen index (FAI), LH, LH/FSH ratio, AMH, INHB, and fasting serum insulin (FINS), and significant increases in the levels of E2, FSH, and SHBG. Western blot analysis showed a decreased protein expression of ovarian AR and Cx43; real-time RT-PCR showed reduced expression of ovarian mRNA levels of AR and Cx43. Conclusions. In conclusion, our results showed that EA can ease hyperandrogenism and polycystic ovary morphology in PCOS rats. Furthermore, EA counteracted the letrozole-induced upregulation of AR and Cx43. These results suggested that acupuncture can break the vicious cycle initiated by excessive androgen secretion and may be an effective treatment method for improving the reproductive and endocrine dysfunction caused by PCOS

Impact of coal evolution on formation of tight sandstone reservoirs: A case study in the Daniudi gas field, Ordos Basin, China

Tight sandstone gas in coal-bearing strata has become an important unconventional gas worldwide. This research aims at understanding the impacts of coal evolution on diagenesis and reservoir quality of sandstones by means of thin section, cathode luminescence (CL), scanning electron microscope (SEM), stable isotope analysis, and fluid inclusions. The results show that carbonate cement was the main type of cement developed in tight sandstone reservoirs, of which the carbonate ions were jointly provided by coal layers and reaction in adjacent mudstones. For sandstones close to coal layers, their carbonate ions were mainly controlled by coal evolution and there was various carbonate cement developed due to cations supplied by seawater and the intense dissolution of volcanic fragments and feldspars. Combined with coal thermal simulation and burial history, it implies that at different maturity stages of coal evolution, its impact on sandstone diagenesis was different. In the early stage, the main product was CO 2 , which caused the dissolution of early calcite and promoted intense compaction. In the mature stage, CO 2 and other hydrocarbon gases were released, resulting in more dissolution and silica cementation. In the over-mature stage, the main product was methane, and CO 2 that did not spill out preserved by forming carbonate cement. The coal evolution had a strong impact on the reservoir quality of sandstone with large grain sizes, but little effect on medium- and fine-grained sandstones. High porosity and low permeability reservoirs were usually formed in small conglomerates and coarse-grained sandstones away from coal layers. While low porosity and high permeability reservoirs were distributed close to coal layers. This study aids in understanding the formation mechanism of tight sandstone reservoirs in coal measures and provides theoretic support for further exploration

sj-docx-1-npx-10.1177_1934578X241228966 - Supplemental material for Momordin Ic Inhibits the Partially Malignant Phenotype of Osteosarcoma Cells by Inducing Apoptosis and Autophagy

Supplemental material, sj-docx-1-npx-10.1177_1934578X241228966 for Momordin Ic Inhibits the Partially Malignant Phenotype of Osteosarcoma Cells by Inducing Apoptosis and Autophagy by Ruiqing Xu, Rui Huang, Jiandang Shi, Dawei Chu and Pengyu Yang in Natural Product Communications</p

Location determination of metal nanoparticles relative to a metal-organic framework

Metal nanoparticles (NPs) stabilized by metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been intensively studied in recent decades, while investigations on the location of guest metal NPs relative to host MOF particles remain challenging and very rare. In this work, we have developed several characterization techniques, including high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM) tomography, hyperpolarized Xe-129 NMR spectroscopy and positron annihilation spectroscopy (PAS), which are able to determine the specific location of metal NPs relative to the MOF particle. The fine PdCu NPs confined inside MIL-101 exhibit excellent catalytic activity, absolute selectivity and satisfied recyclability in the aerobic oxidation of benzyl alcohol in pure water. As far as we know, the determination for the location of metal NPs relative to MOF particles and pore structure information of metal NPs/MOF composites by Xe-129 NMR and PAS techniques has not yet been reported

Defect-Assisted High Anion Conductivity in Diethyldimethylammonium <i>d</i>‑Camphorsulfonate Plastic Crystal: A Size Effect of Target Ions

We demonstrate anion (chloride and fluoride ions) transfer in an organic ionic plastic crystal (OIPC), diethyldimethylammonium d-camphorsulfonate, and the role of defects in ion conduction. The phase transitions, crystalline structures, dynamics, and ion transfer mechanisms of the pure material and the doped mixtures were investigated using a combination of differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The doped mixtures show minor modifications in thermal behaviors and solid phase structures to the host material. The ion mobility of the pure material in the plastic phase was assigned mainly to cations. The fluoride salt-doped mixture has drastically enhanced conductivity at all tested temperatures, and the chloride salt-doped mixture displays a strong temperature-dependent behavior. Ionic conductivity measurements suggest transfer mechanisms through crystalline phases. The pure material and doped mixtures exhibit similar defect volumes and concentrations, and both factors are phase-dependent, as determined using positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy. The conductivity displays dependence on not only the defect volume but also the target ion volume. The relationships between the defect volume and the conductivity qualitatively follow the Cohen–Turnbull free volume model, while critical volumes were very large. For the first time in OIPCs, the size of the target ions was found to significantly influence ionic conductivity

Porous Liquid: A Stable ZIF‑8 Colloid in Ionic Liquid with Permanent Porosity

We reported an example of metal–organic framework (MOF)-based porous liquid by dispersing ZIF-8 ({Zn­(mim)₂}, mim = 2-methylimidazole) nanocrystallites in ionic liquid (IL) of [Bpy]­[NTf₂] (<i>N</i>-butyl pyridinium bis­(trifluoromethyl sulfonyl)­imide). Two essential challenges, stable colloid formation and porosity retention, have been overcome to prepare MOF-based porous liquid. Preventing ZIF-8 nanocrystals from aggregation before dispersing is vital to form a stable ZIF-8 colloid in IL via enhancing the interaction between ZIF-8 and IL. The resultant ZIF-8–[Bpy]­[NTf₂] colloid is able to be stable over months without precipitating. [Bpy]­[NTf₂] with larger ion sizes cannot occupy pores in ZIF-8, leaving the ZIF-8 cage empty for enabling access by guest molecules. The porosity of this porous liquid system was verified by positron (e⁺) annihilation lifetime spectroscopy and I₂ adsorption in ZIF-8 in the colloid. MOF-based porous liquids could provide a new material platform for liquid-bed-based gas separations